The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-17

of the huge barn. The two men were
conversing as 1 .sauntered up, and, after
acknowledging my presence by nod,
they seemed no way 10th to continue
their conversation.
"Tom, ye've got your initials cut on
that corner, now cut my name in full in
the center of this stone," said Bimley.
Tom looked at him for moment sharp
ly, and seemed to discover something in
the mans tones or looks.
"Pshaw! what do you want to adver-
tlse yourself in that way for?"
Gall right; if you don't do it I'll get
some one else to cut them for me-" re-
piled Bimley, in an unsteady voice.
Just then Kate passed the barn on her
way to the spring, casting an anxious look
at her father as she passed.
"God pity that poor motherless girl
when I'm gone"
Bimley uttered these words in low
tone, half to himself, but caught them,
though 1 think Tom did not, as he was
bUsily pounding away at the finishing
touches to the engraving little further
off.
But Tom had evidently been thinking
of Bimley's request and the probable
motive. He ceased his work, and facing
his brother-in-law, said:
"See here, John, I'll cut your name for
you on one condition, and that is, that
you will stop moping and brooding."
agreed" said the elder man, but I
detected a cynical smile on his face that
contradicted his asserting mood.
Having nothing else to busy himself
with, Tom proceeded to mark out the de-
sign for this memorial tablet at once;
and his skill surprised me when exam
med his lesser work in the corner, now
completed.
Bimley, apparently satisfied that he
had gained his point, went off toward the
lake in listless, moody sort of way.
Kate suddenly appeared around an
angle of the turn and said:
"Uncle Tom, don't put the name on
the rockl Don't, pleasep
There was real terror in her tones that
startled Tom into examining her face. 1t
was blanched, and her lip quivered as she
stood there with one deprecating hand
raised.
"Why not?" demanded Tom, surpris-
ed.
ooh! can't tell you. But please don't
cut the name therew
"But I've promised would; and John
will be furious if 1 refuse now"
"Well," said the girl, sadly, and turn
ing away, perhaps you're right"
From Tom I now learned the cause of
Bimley's depression. 1t seems he was
soon to leave his farm-driven out by the
memorable mortgage. Failure to meet
his payments of interest, short crops, and
combination of misfortunes had Gull
minated in the loss of the property.
My heart ached as I looked after this
motherless girl, left not only destitute by
the withdrawal of mothers loving care,
but left also with the fearful burden of
fathers living, double sorrow pressing
very heavily upon her young shoulders,
and yelling her youthful face with pre-
mature sadness.
High up on one Of the verdure. clad foot
hills, / saw the bowed figure OF John Bim-
ley moving slowly toward the summit.
He paused at the top, and, looking back
with one searching glance, he disappear
ed down the farther side. I was about
turning my attention to the carver's work
near me, when l saw the form of Kate
pass swiftly and noiselessly out of the
underground at the top of the hill, and
also pass out of sight down the other
side.
Johns guardian angel" said Tom FL
kins, without stopping the thuds of his
mallet, in reply. apparently, to my ques-
tioning look, turned upon him.
Johns terribly down in the mouth
since Mary died." he continued, aiming
some heavier blows at the bright steel
chisel for deeper cut. 81 think he
takes on more about Mary than he does
about the farm"
1t was clear enough now. The girls
repugnance to having her fathers name
cut in the rock; her constant solicitude
about him; her stealthy pursuit of him
over the hill. She read more in his eye
and his silence than Tom Elkins did in
his short sentences. Life was burden
to him, and not even the strong cord of
Kate's love would be able to bind him to
earth long.
The same afternoon John Bimley view
ed Toms nearly completed work in the
center of the fiat rock. He smiled sadly
| as he said:
"Tom, put the date underneath it." 1t
seemed to dawn on Toms mind that his
! brotherin-law meant this work to be q
posthumous tablet-a grave stone.
"See here, john" he said, jumping up
and laying hand on his arm, "you have
no call to be brooding about your grave
yet. I'd chip out the whole business if I
thought"
"No, mol don't do that' said Bimley,
forcing a laugh, II was joking. Say,
Tom," said he suddenly, changing his
tone and looks, "it anything ever should
happen to me-you know what mean